Dr. Junun Sartohadi presented an example of Eco-DRR in practice with a focus on ecosystem resilience for natural hazard mitigation. In particular, he focussed on the spatial rearrangement of local trees and crops to optimise the ecosystem’s benefits to the local communities. He took the example of an erosion-landslide- drought prone area, the Bompon Sub-watershed in the Magelang District, Central Java. The main objective was to formulate an effective conservation strategy, based on soil-water conservation techniques which are able to mitigate the risk to natural hazards. Most importantly, the proposed system had to be accepted by the community and was meant to improve land cultivation and productivity, consequently generating an economic income. Given the sensitivity and average thickness of the layers of the soil in that area as well as the absence of effective trees rooting systems that would prevent the soil from sliding, the purpose was to determine which crops/trees are providing either daily, seasonal or annual income – the dominant crops/trees. Overall, the land management of the Bompon Sub- watershed was improved through the cultivation of permanent trees and light weight crops, such as coffee, rambutan, durian, etc. The spatial rearrangement was described as a win-win solution enhancing economic productivity while causing minimal land disturbance.
Credit to: Zineb Homman Loudiye
The lecture of Prof Junun can be downloaded on the following link: Spatial Rearrangement of local Trees and Crops:an example of Eco-DRR in practice at the erosion-landslide-drought prone area